West Covina Driveway Rules Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

West Covina's municipal code requires that all vehicles parked on residential property be on paved, approved surfaces. Concrete, asphalt, and other surfaces approved by the city's building standards are acceptable. Parking on grass, bare dirt, gravel, or landscaped areas is prohibited and will generate a code enforcement notice. Informal driveway expansions — such as pouring concrete or placing pavers to create additional parking area without a permit — are building code violations. Any expansion of a paved parking area on a residential lot requires a building permit from the Community Development Department.

Vehicles parked in driveways must be fully contained on the property and may not extend over or block the public sidewalk. Blocking the sidewalk creates an accessibility hazard for pedestrians, including those using wheelchairs and strollers, and is a violation of both the municipal code and the California Vehicle Code. The rear of a vehicle must clear the sidewalk entirely. Similarly, parking in the parkway strip between the sidewalk and the curb is prohibited.

The city also prohibits storing inoperable, dismantled, or unregistered vehicles in open view on residential property. Vehicles without current DMV registration, those missing major components (wheels, engine, windshield), or those covered by tarps visible from the street are subject to abatement as nuisances. These vehicles must be stored inside an enclosed garage or behind a solid fence that fully screens them from public view. Garages must retain their function as vehicle storage; converting a garage to a living space, workshop, or storage room without proper permits and replacement parking is a code violation. Contact Community Development Code Enforcement at (626) 939-8430 to report issues or verify requirements.